Was this fellow truly the Mok Gyeong-un he knew? Staring at Mok Gyeong-un with eyes full of anger, Mok Yu-cheon also spoke in a low voice.
“…You're right. If the secret manual goes to the other brothers, my situation will be obvious without needing to look.”
“Now that you've grasped your situation, let's discu—” “But tell me. Have you ever considered that I could beat you to death and force the secret manual's incantations out of your mouth?” -Grip!
With those words, Mok Yu-cheon seized Mok Gyeong-un's wrist, which had been resting on his shoulder. Then, he gathered his internal energy and applied force. Because of this, the veins on the back of Mok Gyeong-un's hand swelled as if they would burst at any moment.
Mok Yu-cheon said, radiating killing intent.
“With just a little more force, I can cripple your wrist.” -Crrrack!
Mok Yu-cheon applied even more force to his grip. A twisting sound came from the hand he held, and just a little more pressure would be truly dangerous. 'You need to know that I can also act recklessly if it comes to it…?!'
Mok Yu-cheon frowned. He had expected Mok Gyeong-un to be writhing in pain by now. But Mok Gyeong-un's expression remained unchanged.
Instead, he was just staring intently.
'This fellow?'
He's enduring this? His wrist bones are on the verge of breaking, and he's not even nervous? Mok Yu-cheon was momentarily dumbfounded.
This didn't seem to be a matter of endurance.
“…What are you? Are you really Mok Gyeong-un?”
'Gasp!'
At those words from Mok Yu-cheon, the expression of Guard Go Chan, who had been watching nervously from behind, stiffened. He had been anxious about the prolonged contact. Could it be that he's been found out?
If so, this would truly be the worst-case scenario. But just then, Mok Gyeong-un let out a small laugh, looked straight at Mok Yu-cheon, and opened his mouth.
“Then what do you think?”
Seeing his complete lack of agitation, Mok Yu-cheon's eyes narrowed. He felt a sense of dissonance, so different was this person from the cowardly, craven fellow he knew. To him, Mok Gyeong-un said.
“You talk as if you know me well, but what is it that you know?”
“That I don't know about you…”
“Yes. What do you know? Besides the fact that we are half-brothers and that an incident happened two years ago, what else do you know to ask such a thing?”
“…”
Mok Yu-cheon fell silent at the question delivered with a voice full of confidence. He was so bold that, paradoxically, there was nothing left to say. He had wondered about his drastic change in two years, but being questioned like this in return, he didn't know how to answer.
Even before their clash two years ago, they had never spoken much. This was because they were half-brothers, and everyone had ignored and shunned him for being the son of a lowly courtesan. This fellow was no different.
'How annoying.'
But why is this fellow acting so arrogant in return? The question of 'what do you know about me' was actually what he wanted to say to the people of this Mok family. -Grit! Mok Yu-cheon, who had been biting his lip hard, finally relaxed his grip.
He released Mok Gyeong-un's wrist and said.
“Let me ask one thing. Why me?”
“Why you?”
“Yes. None of you ever acknowledged me. You could have made a deal with those high-and-mighty blood relatives.”
To that, Mok Gyeong-un said nonchalantly.
“I just thought you were the best of the brothers, that's all.”
“…”
For a moment, Mok Yu-cheon was silent. Mok Yu-cheon stared intently into Mok Gyeong-un's eyes. He had thought that Mok Gyeong-un, just like himself, would hate him because of that incident two years ago.
But hearing these words was truly unexpected. Of course, this wasn't an issue that would suddenly resolve their relationship. '…Have I been thinking of this fellow too simply?' That thought crossed his mind.
He had wanted someone to acknowledge him, but he himself had never tried to know anyone. Perhaps Mok Gyeong-un had really changed in the past two years. Mok Yu-cheon let down his guard, stood up straight, and said.
“Hoo… Alright. Let's make this deal, or whatever it is.”
“Good.”
“What do you want?”
Though he didn't show it, Mok Yu-cheon was inwardly worried about what Mok Gyeong-un would demand. Giving him the secret manual, known as the Manor Lord's exclusive martial art, was no different from making a huge concession. Considering its value, there was no way he would ask for something trivial.
He hoped the demand wouldn't exceed what he could grant. To this Mok Yu-cheon, Mok Gyeong-un raised three fingers and said.
“I have three demands.”
“What?”
“I believe it's worth at least this much.”
Mok Yu-cheon didn't reply to Mok Gyeong-un's words. It was because he couldn't very well say no. So, he felt he had to at least hear what the demands were.
“That's still a lot. Anyway, what are they?”
“They are not very difficult demands for you.”
“…Alright. Speak.”
“First, if you become the Manor Lord, I don't know about the other brothers, but you are not to touch me.”
At those words, a strange light glinted in Mok Yu-cheon's eyes. It was certainly not a very difficult demand. No, perhaps from Mok Gyeong-un's perspective, it was a natural request.
If he were to become Manor Lord with the vassals' support, he would naturally wage war against his other half-brothers. 'Even though I don't like this fellow, it's not a bad demand from my perspective either.' After all, it means reducing the number of enemies by at least one.
He readily replied.
“Alright. I can accept that much. What's next?”
“If you become Manor Lord, I want continued financial support.”
“Financial?”
“Yes.”
“…Fine.”
This wasn't a particularly difficult demand either. Hearing it, it sounded less like a demand for a large sum of money and more like a request to be continually taken care of as a member of the Lotuswood Sword Manor. Thus, Mok Yu-cheon thought it wasn't bad and accepted it.
He felt relieved that, contrary to his worries, there were no huge demands. But he couldn't let his guard down. The last demand could be a big one.
“What's the last one?”
“This isn't a big deal either. I want the heart technique and martial incantations for the Lotuswood Sword Manor's basic arts.”
“What?”
Mok Yu-cheon furrowed his brow at the unexpected demand. Seeing this, Go Chan grew anxious inwardly. The matter of his identity had somehow passed by luckily, but if he asked this, suspicion would inevitably arise again.
'Will this work?' As he fretted, Mok Gyeong-un spoke nonchalantly.
“You heard me. I want the heart technique and martial incantations for the Lotuswood Sword Manor's basic arts.”
At these words, Mok Yu-cheon spoke in a tone of incomprehension.
“You already know them, don't you?”
“I know them.”
“Then why are you demanding them? There's no need to…”
“To be honest, I don't really need the third demand.”
'Eh?'
Go Chan stared at the back of Mok Gyeong-un's head, wondering what this was all about. No, what is this act? He doesn't need it?
Just like Go Chan, Mok Yu-cheon was also puzzled and asked back.
“You don't need it?”
“Right. The first two are what I really want. The last one, the third, is just something I'm asking to personally confirm something.”
At those words, Mok Yu-cheon's frown smoothed out. He tilted his head and said.
“What are you trying to confirm?”
“It's nothing much. I just want to confirm if what I know is correct.”
“Confirm if what you know is correct?”
“Yes. There's no other reason.”
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Mok Yu-cheon let out a faint, dry laugh. Go Chan was puzzled by this reaction. He couldn't understand why Mok Yu-cheon would react like that instead of becoming suspicious at Mok Gyeong-un's ambiguous words.
But he understood with Mok Yu-cheon's next words.
“Are you, by any chance, suspecting Father?” '!?'
“Do you think Father taught me differently?”
'What?'
At those words, Go Chan's eyes widened. No, this was a completely unexpected method. He hadn't expected Mok Yu-cheon to jump to his own conclusions like that, rather than becoming suspicious.
Playing along, Mok Gyeong-un said nonchalantly.
“I just want to confirm it.”
“There's nothing different.”
“I'll know that once I hear you recite it.”
At that, Mok Yu-cheon snorted. Then he shook his head and said.
“There's no point in checking, you're just doing something useless.”
“If there's nothing different, you can just tell me. I can immediately confirm whether it's different or not just by listening to you speak.”
“You really are demanding something absurd.”
“It's not like you have anything to lose.”
“…Well, I suppose that's true.”
“Then you can tell me the incantations for the basic arts right here. After you tell me, I'll tell you mine right away.”
“What? Here?”
Mok Yu-cheon glanced around, frowned, and asked back. To this, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders and said.
“Why? Are you worried someone will overhear? Or don't tell me you lack the confidence to memorize it if I recite it orally?”
At this, Mok Yu-cheon said in an annoyed tone.
“You're just in the position of confirming what you already know, while I have to memorize the incantations of a profound martial art I'm learning for the first time. It's different!”
“Ah… is that so. Then would it be better if I wrote it down and sent it to you?”
Mok Yu-cheon paused for a moment at those words. Having it written down would be convenient, but on second thought, it didn't seem right. 'I should hear it here.'
One never knew. He had confirmed the secret manual, but there was a chance, however small, that Mok Gyeong-un could tell him the wrong incantations. In that case, it was better to hear it orally, right here.
That way, if he made him repeat it several times, he would be able to distinguish any errors. Thinking it a good idea, Mok Yu-cheon said.
“No, let's do it here. But you have to keep reciting it until I've memorized all the incantations.”
“Well, that's not too difficult.”
And so, the deal between the two was struck.
About two double-hours and two incenses' time passed. On the way back to the Medicine Hall. Guard Go Chan clicked his tongue as he watched the back of Mok Gyeong-un, whose steps were light.
'Truly amazing.'
This time, he had no choice but to admit it. He knew Mok Gyeong-un was smart from his continuous experiences, but he never knew he was this smart. From the very beginning, the only thing Mok Gyeong-un wanted was the basic arts.
But he first stated other plausible demands to dispel Mok Yu-cheon's suspicions. Furthermore, even with the basic arts, he guided the mood naturally by demanding the incantations merely to confirm if they matched what he already knew.
'Ha… truly…'
He was cunning beyond measure. In truth, luck was also on his side to some extent. Thanks to Mok Yu-cheon jumping to his own conclusions, Mok Gyeong-un was able to use the situation to his advantage.
It was possible because his perceptiveness was astonishingly quick. 'It would be hard to be more natural than this.' He was an amazing fellow.
But there was one thing he was curious about. It seemed he had somehow heard the incantations for the basic arts from Mok Yu-cheon, but for the purpose of 'confirming', it seemed he had only heard them once. Is it possible to memorize so many incantations after hearing them just once?
Go Chan, who had been debating whether to ask, finally did.
“…Young Master. But it seems you only heard the incantations once, is that alright?”
“What about it?”
“There are too many incantations to memorize in one go…”
“What's so difficult about that?”
“Pardon?”
“Can't you memorize that much after hearing it just once?” '!?'
At those words, Go Chan's eyes widened. No way, he memorized all those basic arts incantations, which took nearly half a double-hour to recite, after hearing them only once? The basic arts included fist arts, Sword Art, basic energy circulation technique, and light body technique.
It was an amount impossible to memorize after hearing only once. Hadn't even Mok Yu-cheon, who was called a natural martial genius, barely memorized it after Mok Gyeong-un had to orally repeat it eight or nine times?
“…Did you really memorize it all in one go?”
“Yes. It wasn't very difficult, so what's so strange?”
“…”
Not very difficult? Then does that make him and Young Master Mok Yu-cheon fools? He thought it was amazing that they had memorized it in about two double-hours just from oral recitation.
'Ha.'
If these words were true, this fellow's mind was truly extraordinary. Inwardly dumbfounded, Go Chan shook his head. This fellow couldn't be judged by common sense.
So it seemed better to just adjust to him.
“…No, it's nothing. I just asked because I don't have the confidence to memorize it in one go. Anyway, I'm glad the deal was completed safely. But will it be alright?”
“What about it?”
“It was a deal, but is it really alright to obediently give the secret manual to Young Master Mok Yu-cheon?”
Mok Yu-cheon's temperament was better than the other young masters. He would probably keep the promised deal unless something extraordinary happened. But there was a sense that something was being wasted.
After all, he had essentially given up the chance to receive the vassals' support. To him, Mok Gyeong-un said nonchalantly.
“They're not even the proper incantations, so there's no problem in telling him.”
“…Pardon?”
Go Chan frowned. What does this mean now?
“Young Master… what do you mean by that?”
“Ah. Should I have just kept it to myself?”
“Pardon?”
Mok Gyeong-un slung an arm over the questioning Go Chan's shoulder, grinned, and whispered in his ear.
“It's a secret, so only you should know, Guard Go Chan. For the incantations of the Lotuswood Heart Transformation Technique and the Lotuswood Sword Formation Art, I swapped characters or changed them to have a different meaning roughly every thirteen to fourteen characters. I was on edge wondering if I'd be caught, but it seems it went over well.” '!?'
Hearing those words, Go Chan couldn't hide his momentary bewilderment. He had thought it was strange that this fellow handed over the secret manual so obediently. But he had given him incantations for the heart technique and sword art that weren't correct, but arbitrarily altered?
If one learned that incorrectly, they could suffer from qi deviation and become a cripple, or even die.
“Young Master, if you do that…”
“Why?”
Mok Gyeong-un asked with that characteristic cold smile of his. '!!!!!!' At this, goosebumps rose all over Go Chan's body. This fellow had no interest whatsoever in whether the youngest Young Master, Mok Yu-cheon, ended up ruined or not. '…This fellow is truly a demon.'
The atmosphere earlier had been reasonably warm. He had thought it a mutually satisfactory deal, but it was not at all. The winner of this deal was this demon. -Hoo.
However, there was another being looking down on them from the empty air, clicking its tongue. It was the Blue Spirit. The Blue Spirit puffed on its long pipe and looked at Mok Gyeong-un.
'You crazy mortal.' It was truly absurd. That mortal named Go Chan was completely unaware of it.
The fact that Mok Gyeong-un had improvised and temporarily changed over eighty characters in the middle of the incantation, and then recited that exact same version to Mok Yu-cheon nine times without a single mistake. It goes beyond having an extraordinary mind.